LESSON 13

A meaningless world engenders fear.

1 Today's
idea is really another form of the preceding one, except that it is
more specific as to the emotion aroused. Actually, a meaningless
world is impossible. Nothing without meaning exists. However, it does
not follow that you will not think you perceive something that has no
meaning. On the contrary, you will be particularly likely to think
you do perceive it.

2 Recognition
of meaninglessness arouses intense anxiety in all the separated ones.
It represents a situation in which God and the ego
"challenge" each other as to whose meaning is to be written
in the empty space that meaninglessness provides. The ego rushes in
frantically to establish its own ideas there, fearful that the void
may otherwise be used to demonstrate its own impotence and unreality.
And on this alone it is correct.

3 It is
essential, therefore, that you learn to recognize the meaningless,
and accept it without fear. If you are fearful, it is certain that
you will endow the world with attributes that it does not possess,
and crowd it with images that do not exist. To the ego illusions are
safety devices, as they must also be to you who equate yourself with
the ego.

4 The
exercises for today, which should be done about three or four times
for not more than a minute or so at most each time, are to be
practiced in a somewhat different way from the preceding ones. With
eyes closed, repeat today's idea to yourself. Then open your
eyes, and look about you slowly, saying:

I am looking at a meaningless world.

Repeat this statement to yourself as
you look about. Then close your eyes, and conclude with:

A meaningless world engenders fear because I think
I am in competition with God.

5 You may find
it difficult to avoid resistance, in one form or another, to this
concluding statement. Whatever form such resistance may take, remind
yourself that you are really afraid of such a thought because of the
"vengeance" of the "enemy." You are not expected
to believe the statement at this point, and will probably dismiss it
as preposterous. Note carefully, however, any signs of overt or
covert fear which it may arouse.

6 This is our
first attempt at stating an explicit cause and effect relationship of
a kind which you are very inexperienced in recognizing. Do not dwell
on the concluding statement, and try not even to think of it except
during the practice periods. That will suffice at present.